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The doghouse

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Original poster

Puppy for Christmas?

16 replies

ifyouwish · 21/10/2013 22:09

I've rewritten this twice now, I'm trying to write it without wittering! Smile

The long and short is, we've always had dogs, the dc's have always had dogs. This isn't a whim, we lost one of our dogs last year, and now dd's and able to understand not to pester the puppy, we're looking for another.

My question really is, obviously this new member of the family wouldn't just be for Christmas, as I said, it's not a whim, we've always been dog people, and we'd have got another sooner if dd wasn't so young when our eldest dog died. See, wittering again! But is it a terrible idea to get one for Christmas day as a surprise for the dc's? And, knowing the 'not just for Christmas', my duh has said that no reputable breeder would sell puppies at Christmas, is this true?

OP posts:
Original poster
ifyouwish · 21/10/2013 22:11

Sorry, fat thumb on my phone!

OP posts:
fanoftheinvisibleman · 21/10/2013 22:16

I would agree with your dh. Far too busy and excitable atmosphere in my opinion.

My parents got me a horse one christmas (dads family had owned horses forever). On christmas day I opened a horse care book with an IOU inside. The horse arrived months later when the correct arrangement and the right horse could be sorted.

FurryDogMother · 21/10/2013 22:18

I got my dog for Christmas (2 years ago) - but she didn't come from a reputable breeder, she was sort of a rescue. You seem to know dogs, and there is nothing inherently wrong with getting a dog at Christmas time, so long as you (and you obviously do) realise that it's a lifetime commitment. I would urge you to look at rescue dogs rather than breeders though, unless you're planning to show (and even if you are!) - there are so many puppies - and older dogs, of course - who need homes. Also - and I'm sure you know this, but saying it anyway 'cos people who are less well informed may be reading - don't expect your DCs to look after said puppy!

If I were you, I'd contact my local Dogs Trust and ask them what you've asked here :)

VikingLady · 21/10/2013 22:20

Maybe go to a shelter and get one a month or so after Christmas? There are a lot of abandoned dogs in Jan/Feb who will need a home.

Imsosorryalan · 21/10/2013 22:20

I would agree. Yes, it's nice to have that puppy on Xmas day but it's such a busy day with family and what not, it's prob. Quite traumatic for a new puppy. Also, in my opinion, winter is the worst time to get a puppy. Dark mornings and nights, toilet training in the snow!

IOU is a great idea though, and you all can have fun choosing a breed together. Spring is the time to get one..getting warmer then!

PinkFairyArmadillo · 21/10/2013 22:24

Yep, it is always a terrible idea.

Moving to a new home is stressful enough for a young puppy without the bustle and excitement of Christmas day on top.

I also agree with your DH. I would be very suspicious of any breeder willing to let a puppy go just in time for Christmas. Most decent breeders I know would also want to meet the whole family, including children before deciding if the family is suitable for one of their puppies.

Original poster
ifyouwish · 21/10/2013 22:26

You know, when I see it written down like that, I can see what a stupid idea it is. I got carried away with the idea of the dc's faces, but obviously there's more presents etc, it would scare the puppy to bits!

Yes, not my best idea practically (for the pup) . The horse present was lovely. I could do that, or even if we find a puppy near Christmas that'll be ready to leave at the end of January, I could put a picture under the tree.

See, this is why mumsnet is so good, Helps talk me out of daft moves. Dh did look horrified when I suggested it earlier. It was just a thought! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
ifyouwish · 21/10/2013 22:31

Cross posted with everyone then!

Do a lot of dogs really end up in shelters after Christmas? I honestly wouldn't have thought that really happened. I can't imagine people just getting a dog without thinking it all through.

And no, I'd never expect the dc's to look after it! I'd be shocked if they did! Although they're very good with the cuddles and treat buying Smile

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 21/10/2013 22:31

Your DH is right. I think you know that really - a puppy is not a Christmas present. Apart from all the downsides already mentioned, in some families (not yours, ifyou) it would make the pup seem too much like a commodity, something that might be played with for a while and then discarded.

Anyone else reading this thread because they were toying with the idea of getting a puppy for Christmas - Please don't.

The IOU in a book about dog care is a great idea!

Original poster
ifyouwish · 21/10/2013 22:42

Thank you for the replies.

I really do love the IOU idea, I might try and let them think we're not getting one for quite a while, so they'll be surprised.

OP posts:
1MitchellMum · 22/10/2013 09:48

I got my last puppy in December ... that's December 2003! So there are puppies around at that time of year. But it was just the two of us in the house, plus our older two dogs. Christmas day was spent with family but not a huge gathering. Not all families have a raucous Christmas ... BUT no breeder would be letting a dog go to its new home on Christmas day, and it's not like a bicycle or dolly pram that you could ask family or friends to keep until the big day. Good breeders would also want to meet the whole family in advance, so they can check out that the kids will be good with the dog.

tabulahrasa · 22/10/2013 10:36

Yep loads of Puppies start appearing in rescues around the end of January/ February time - when they get old enough to actually need looking after and the novelty has worn off.

One way around the whole having a puppy and the Christmas mayhem (and your DH is right, good breeders hold on to Christmas puppies for an extra week or so to weed out people wanting presents) is to find the right breeder and give the DC a photo in a box, so you get all the excitement but you can still take them to visit and then pick up the puppy.

Frightchen · 22/10/2013 11:01

Building from fan's IOU, could you get a book of dog breeds, wrap that and put it under the tree? Then you could talk to your DC about getting a puppy in Jan/Feb, and either what sort of breed you were thinking of or about the rescue (depending on whether you're going breeder or rescue - I do agree with a pp that rescues do tend to see a lot of unwanted Christmas puppies in January and February, so if you weren't set on a specific breed, I'd definitely recommend checking with your local rescue(s))

Original poster
ifyouwish · 22/10/2013 20:25

The boys know what dog they want, the same as we've had, they just can't decide on the colour!

On a depressing note, there's me waffling about puppies, and our lovely pooch has been quite off it today. Just got back from the vets and he's got quite a bad heart murmur Hmm he's going to be on medication for the rest of his life. I'm absolutely gutted. Poor little fella just started coughing last night.

OP posts:
Gingersstuff · 23/10/2013 09:35

I'd hope to the gods that no reputable breeder would even THINK about letting a pup go to their new home on Christmas Day all trussed up like a present Sad
He/she will be a member of your family, not something akin to a bottle of perfume or an iPad.
Glad to see you've had a rethink OP, and yes...there are literally hundreds of unwanted pups and dogs handed into rescues in Jan/Feb. I would wait and let your kids pick out one of these unfortunate animals; they will feel so good about giving an unwanted dog a home Smile

everlong · 23/10/2013 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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